Lavender typically appears in subdued shades of purple, ranging from periwinkle to mauve and light lilac to deep and dark lavender hues. Though its variations are plentiful, typical lavender colors are usually shades of purples and mauves with blue, red, and pink tones throughout.
To add a slight grey hue, some lavenders can contain grey or green undertones. Light hues of lavender, often with a slight pinkish hue, are commonly seen in spring gardens. Deep lavender colors, with their heavy blues and purples, are more commonly found in the fall.
How many different types of lavender are there?
There are more than 450 species of the lavender plant and its many hybrids, subspecies, and varieties. The most popular and widely available types come from the genus Lavandula, and include English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Spanish lavender (Lavandula dentata), and Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia).
English lavender is the most popular among home and gardeners, and has the sweet, floral scent most closely associated with the lavender plant. French lavender is a more hardy variety that offers flower spikes with a strong aromatic fragrance.
Spanish lavender is prized for its medicinal properties, while Lavandin lavender offers a more fragrant, camphor-like aroma. Other notable species include Spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia), Portuguese lavender (Lavandula visibility), Edelweiss (Lavandula stoechas ‘Edelweiss’), and Dutch lavender (Lavandula multifida).
Depending on the species, lavender is used in perfumery, potpourri and herbal medicines, as well as soap, aromatherapy, and as a culinary herb.
What is the prettiest lavender?
The prettiest lavender plant is a subjective matter and depends largely on personal preference. However, a few of the most popular lavenders are considered to be Lavandula angustifolia, commonly referred to as English Lavender or Common Lavender, Lavandula x intermedia, commonly referred to as Lavandin, Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to as French or Spanish Lavender, and Lavandula multifida, commonly referred to as Fernleaf Lavender or Cutleaf Lavender.
English Lavender is an evergreen, bushy shrub with gray green leaves and a strong, bittersweet, highly fragrant flower. The flowers are violet blue and grow in a very neat, upright shape.
Lavandin is a sterile hybrid of two other species, Lavandula latifolia and L. angustifolia. It is a quilted shrub with thick, pungent, sweet smelling branches. Its blooms grow in a very unique, fan-like shape and are often pale to deep shades of lilac.
French Lavender is a woody shrub with broad, pointed leaves and dark violet blooms. The flowers often appear in clusters and aroma is exceptionally strong.
Finally, Fernleaf Lavender is a small shrub with soft, fern-like foliage and sparse blooms. The flowers are a delicate violet blue and give off a soft, honeylike fragrance.
Each of these lavender plants offer a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and fragrances, so the choice of which is the “prettiest” depends entirely upon personal preference. All of them, however, are stunningly beautiful and make a wonderful addition to any outdoor area.
Which lavender smells the best?
The best smelling lavender will depend on individual preference. While some may prefer the sharp, floral scent of English lavender, others may enjoy the sweet, citrus-like smell of French lavender. It is worth noting that certain varieties of lavender, such as lavandin, are known for seasoning the air with a much stronger scent than other varieties.
When shopping for lavender products, it is important to read the label carefully in order to understand the smell you can expect from your purchase. If you’re looking to try a few scents yourself, lavender oil may be a good way to start as it comes in a variety of scents from floral to citrus.
Ultimately, the best smelling lavender will depend on personal preference, and the only way to determine which scent is best for you is to give a few different varieties a try.
Is French or English lavender better?
It really depends on what you are intending to use the lavender for. French lavender tends to have a more intense flavor which makes it ideal for baking and cooking, making it the perfect choice for dishes that require a bit of sweet floral complexity.
On the other hand, English lavender has a more subtle and delicate flavor which is great for adding an aroma to fragrant teas and flower arrangements. Therefore, there is no definitive answer as to which one is better, as it all depends on what you need it for.
How can I tell what kind of lavender I have?
In order to tell what kind of lavender you have, you need to look closely at the physical characteristics of the plant. Take note of the leaves, which can be either linear or toothed, size and shape of the flowers, color of the flowers, and the overall growth habit.
Each variety of lavender has unique characteristics that can help identify it. You can also look at the scientific name of the lavender to help determine what it is. Cross reference the scientific with a field guide or lavender species database to make the determination.
Additionally, a local plant nursery or seed professionals can help to positively identify the lavender.
Which variety of lavender is the most fragrant?
The most fragrant variety of Lavender is the Lavandin Super. Lavandin Super is an evergreen shrub that has a strong, sweet, and spicy scent. It is a hybrid of English Lavender, which is commonly used for essential oils, and a variety of Lavandula latifolia, which is known for its incredibly strong scent.
Lavandin Super is grown primarily in France, Spain, and Italy, and it is prized for its incredibly strong, sweet aroma. It is especially suited for making perfumes, body lotions, and soaps because of its intense, long-lasting scent.
Additionally, this variety of Lavender is often used to make sachets and infusions to scent drawers and wardrobes.
What is the lavender varieties?
Lavender is a very popular fragrant herb with a wide range of varieties, colors, and uses. The most common lavenders are English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), French lavender (Lavandula intermedia), Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), and hybrid lavenders (Lavandula x intermedia).
English lavender is the most widely used lavender in the world and has a sweet, mellow smell and grayish- green leaves with flowers that range in color from light pink to dark purple. French lavender is a bit more flavorful than English lavender and has a somewhat bitter scent.
Its leaves are grayish green and its flowers range from light pink to dark purple. Spanish lavender is the most colorful of the three and has a spicy, camphor-like smell. Its leaves are grayish green and its flowers are bright pink and purple.
Hybrid lavenders are a mix of English and French lavenders, and their flowers, leaves, and scents tend to reflect the traits of their parent plants. Some common varieties of hybrid lavender are Grosso, Phenomenal, Provence, and Hidcote.
What kind of lavender is a perennial?
Perennial Lavender is a type of lavender that can live and bloom for multiple seasons, typically between 2-5 years, before needing to be replaced. This type of lavender is very popular in gardens and flowerbeds due to its long-lasting blooms and stunning landscape.
The most common varieties of perennial lavender are English, French, and hybrid Lavenders, which come in a variety of colors, ranging from deep purple to light lavender. All of these varieties of lavender can be easily maintained with proper watering and pruning, and can help create a truly breathtaking garden or flower bed.
Additionally, perennial lavenders are also known for their medicinal and aromatherapy benefits when their flowers are dried and used in essential oils.
Is lilac the same as lavender?
No, lilac and lavender are not the same. Lilac is a shrub or small tree found in the Oleaceae family, while lavender is an herb found in the Lamiaceae family. Lilac typically has a shorter flowering season and larger, more prominently colored blooms, while lavender typically has a longer flowering season and more delicate-looking blooms.
In terms of the aromatic qualities of each plant, lilac has a sweeter scent than lavender, which has a more herbal and slightly citrus scent.
What color is similar to lilac?
Lilac is a pastel purple color which sits between lavender and mauve. Colors that can be considered similar to lilac are lavender, light purple, periwinkle, mauve, lavender grey, and wisteria. Lavender is a light purple color with a slight blue tint while mauve is more of a deep purple shade.
Periwinkle has more of a pale blue tone to it. Lavender grey is a mix of both lavender and grey shades while wisteria is a mix of lavender and pink tones.
Are lilacs in the lavender family?
Yes, lilacs are in the lavender family (Lamiaceae). This family also includes many other well-known plants, such as: peppermint, oregano, sage, thyme, and rosemary. Lilacs are the largest of the genus Syringa, which is a genus belonging to the Lamiaceae family.
Lilacs typically range in colors from light purple to white and have been known to have a very fragrant smell. Their drooping panicles are very popular among gardeners due to their unique beauty. They also make a great addition to bouquets or as a decorative plant around the home or garden.
Is lavender and light purple the same?
No, lavender and light purple are not the same. Lavender is a relatively soft, light purple color with a blueish-purplish tint, often associated with the color of the flowers used to produced the essential oil of the same name.
On the other hand, light purple is a much lighter shade of purple, often very close to white, and with almost no hint of blue or red. In terms of their use in fashion, they do not typically function in the same way.
Lavender is commonly associated with a romantic, dreamy, or softer aesthetic, while light purple can be used more as a neutral, particularly in clothing combinations, or in patterns and prints.
What is the difference between lilac and purple?
The difference between lilac and purple is that while they are both colors in the range of cool dark hues, each of them have distinct characteristics. Lilac is a pale purple hue, which is a blend of pink and white, often described as periwinkle.
It generally is more of a light lavender tone with greyish blue undertones. Purple is often characterized as a more vivid color with more blue and stronger red hues. It tends to be more vibrant and deep in color than lilac.
Is there a lilac essential oil?
Yes, there is such a thing as a lilac essential oil. This type of essential oil is derived directly from the lilac plant. It has a subtly sweet, floral scent and is known to have many therapeutic benefits.
It is often used in aromatherapy, massage, and bath & body products, as well as natural health treatments like diffusers. The properties of this oil are thought to help relieve stress and anxiety, improve mood, and act as a natural anti-inflammatory.
Some people also find that using this oil topically helps to clear up skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Lilac essential oil is regenerative, so it can help to regenerate damaged skin and hair, as well as restore a healthy glow.
Do lilacs repel bugs?
No, lilacs do not repel bugs. While some plants do naturally repel bugs, due to the release of aromatic oils which act as natural insecticides, lilacs are not one of them. While lilacs may appear to be pest-resistant due to their thick foliage and the size of their flower heads, the reality is, they’re attractive to certain flying and biting insects and can be susceptible to fungal diseases, like powdery mildew, if not properly cared for.
If you’re looking to repel bugs in the garden, you may want to consider using other plants and natural repellents, such as marigolds, marjoram, mint, or garlic, or even essential oils.
Is Wisteria A lilac?
No, Wisteria is a type of flowering vine in the Fabaceae (pea) family and is not a member of the lilac family, Oleaceae. Wisteria is native to the Eastern United States and China, and is one of the most beloved garden plants.
Characterized by its cascading racemes of flowers in shades of purples, pinks and whites, Wisteria is often used to decorate archways, trellises, and fencing. By contrast, lilacs are deciduous shrubs or small trees, native to Europe, Asia, and North America.
They are favorites for their fragrant late spring blossoms, in colors ranging from white, pale yellow, pale purple, light to dark pink and lavender.
